Actor Neeraj Kabi who essayed the role of Rajesh Talwar in Meghna Gulzar’s Talvar, based on the twin murder case in Noida in 2008, conveys good wishes and prayers to Rajesh and Nupur Talwar after their acquittal by the Allahabad High Court. The Talwars’ were convicted of their daughter’s murder.

Much like his Bollywood counterparts, actor Neeraj Kabi is happy with the recent verdict on the twin murder case of Aarushi Talwar and domestic help Hemraj. The Allahabad High Court on Thursday acquitted Aarushi’s parents, dentists Rajesh Talwar and Nupur Talwar. Neeraj, who essayed Rajesh Talwar’s (Ramesh Tandon) character in Meghna Gulzar’s film, Talvar (2015), based on the incident, shares that he feels “joyous at a human level”. Konkona Sen Sharma was seen as Nupur Talwar (Nutan Tandon) in the film.

“What strikes me instantly without a second thought is happiness for two human beings. They have been caged behind bars, and are finally set free. My prayers and good wishes are with them as they will now be able to lead a normal life. At the same time, when they are about to begin their life afresh, the most difficult part would be dealing with living a life without their daughter. More so, because it was not a natural death, she was murdered,” says the actor of Ship of Theseus (2012) fame.

Along with Neeraj, Meghna, Irrfan (who essayed the role of investigation officer) and Vishal Bhardwaj, who wrote the film, also expressed their happiness regarding the verdict.

Neeraj Kabi and Konkona Sen Sharma in a still from Meghna Gulzar’s Talvar.

“I could feel for him (Rajesh Talwar while shooting for Talvar), because I was playing a human character, someone who is alive. But as an artist, I didn’t take any sides, as we didn’t know the truth. I still don’t know. As an actor my job was to give information about both the sides and place it in front of the audience. So even now, more than justice or who is the convict or the victim, what is of prime importance to me is what they (Rajesh and Nupur Talwar) have been going through,” adds Neeraj.

14-year-old Aarushi, resident of L-32 Jalvayu Vihar, Noida was found murdered in her bedroom on May 16, 2008. Two days later, the dead body of the initial suspect of the murder, their domestic help Hemraj’s body was recovered from the terrace of the same flat. The case later went to CBI, after Noida Police’s investigation of the case was unsatisfactory. A CBI court convicted the Talwars’ of the murder of their daughter in 2013. Now, after the recent verdict, few reports suggest that CBI is planning to challenge the acquittal in the Supreme Court.